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PSA: I used to think a 'clean bench' meant wiping it down with a rag

For years, my repair bench was a disaster zone. I'd fix a Pentax K1000, wipe my hands on a cloth, and call it good. The real change came after a job last month. A customer brought in a Leica M3 that was grinding, and I spent two hours taking it apart only to find a single, tiny grain of beach sand in the shutter mechanism. I traced it back to my own bench, which had dust from a concrete job I'd done in my garage. Now, I have a strict new rule. Before any camera even touches the surface, I use a small air blower and a soft brush, then wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened with a bit of isopropyl. It adds five minutes to my setup, but it's saved me from so many headaches. Has anyone else had a 'eureka' moment about bench cleanliness that seemed obvious in hindsight?
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3 Comments
the_charlie
the_charlie19d agoMost Upvoted
Honestly, I was the same until a dust bunny killed a shutter.
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hannah_fisher58
Ever hear about the guy who found metal shavings in his lens assembly? My buddy traced it back to his own drill press across the shop.
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ryan_black
ryan_black18d ago
Seriously? That seems like a freak accident, not a normal thing to worry about.
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